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SPICE
TRAIL
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Duration:
15 Days/14 Nights
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Itinerary
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Day
1 : Arrive Mumbai
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On
arrival in Mumbai, you will be met by our local representative
and transferred to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
2 : Mumbai - Goa
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After
breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for flight
to Goa. On arrival, you will be met by our local representative
and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
3 : Goa
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After
buffet breakfast, proceed for a full day South Goa tour.
Visit includes Old Goa Churches - Basilica of Bom Jesus,
Se Cathedral, Sri Mangueshi and Shantadurga temples, ancestral
Goa at Loutolim, Colva Beach, Bogmala Beach, Dona Paula
Bay and Miramar.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
4 : Goa
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After
buffet breakfast, proceed for a full day North Goa tour.
Visit Sri Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narva, Beaches at Vagator,
Anjuna and Calangute, Fort Aguada and the handicrafts Emporium
at Panjim. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
5 : Goa
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Buffet
breakfast at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure for
water sports or relaxation at the beach. Overnight at the
hotel.
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Day
6 : Goa - Cochin
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 Early
Check out at 0630 Hrs. Transfer to the airport for flight to Cochin.
On arrival in Cochin you will be met by our local representative
and transferred to your hotel. Check in at the hotel. (Early check-in
is subject to availability). After lunch proceed for a half-day
sight seeing tour of the city. Visit Santa Cruz Basilica, St.
Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace. In the evening enjoy a private
performance of Kathakali - the folk dance form of Kerela.
Overnight at the hotel.
Santa Cruz Basilica, the monumental church that was built in 1558
AD and has beautiful paintings on the ceilings.
Portuguese Franciscan Friars built St. Francis Church in 1503.
It is the India's oldest European church. It was restored in 1779
by the protestant Dutch, converted to an Anglican Church by the
British in 1795, and is presently used by the church of South
India. Vasco da Gama's remains were buried here in 1524 and later
moved to Lisbon, Portugal but his tombstone still remains.
Mattancherry Palace - Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented
to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the palace was renovated
in 1663 by the Dutch. On display here are beautiful Murals depicting
scenes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and some of the
puranic mythological Hindu legends. The Palace is open for public
viewing from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. all weekdays except Fridays.
Along the waters, huge Chinese fishing nets rest
on their cantilevered stands. The technique came from Kubla Khan's
court and till date serves the purpose. |
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Day
7 : Cochin
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After
breakfast, proceed for a half day city tour visiting Jewish Town,
Jewish synagogue and shopping at the local market. Evening is
at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Jewish Town is the area around the Synagogue. It is the center
of spice trade and curio shops.
Jewish Synagogue was constructed in 1568; this is the oldest synagogue
in the commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese
raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch. Known
for mid 18th century hand printed, willow pattern floor tiles
from Canton in China, a dock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone
slabs, ancient scripts on copper plates etc., the Synagogue is
open from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. It is
closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
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Day
8 : Cochin - Kumarakom
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After
breakfast, check out and travel to Kumarakom. On arrival,
check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to
enjoy the scenic environs. In the afternoon, enjoy a short
boat ride on the backwaters. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
9 : Kumarakom
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After
breakfast at the hotel, proceed for a half-day sight seeing tour.
Visit the Thirunakkara Mahadev temple, Valiyapalli Church which
is dedicated to St. Mary, the Valia Palli is a church built in
1550 for the Knanaya Orthodox Syrians situated in Thazhathangadi,
2 km from the center of the town. It is famous for its 8th century
Persian cross and the Pahalavi inscription on the cross and the
Kumarakom bird Sanctuary which is situated on the banks of the
Vemband lake and is known for local varieties of Waterfowl, Cuckoo,
and Water Ducks, as well as for the migratory Siberian Storks.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
10 : Kumarakom - Alleppey
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 After
breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Alleppey (or
Alaphuza). On arrival, proceed for a sight seeing tour. Visit
the Sreekrishna temple and St. Andrews Church. Later check in
at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Alleppey is the center of the backwaters and also known as the
Venice of the East. Situated on the banks of Vemband Lake, this
town's commercial center lives in a maze of canals. Set in the
labyrinth of Backwater channels, the town is one of the best gateways
to explore the un-spoilt countryside. It is a bustling, town of
ramshackle wood and corrugalated roof houses, chiefly significant
in the Coir industry. The large network of canals provides the
lifeline to the city. It has a spectacular long sandy beach. At
one end are the dense palm groves that are so characteristic of
Kerala's landscape. Sreekrishna Temple boasts classic temple architecture
and its 'Palpayasam' (sweet milk porridge), offered to the deity.
The temple's main festival occurs in March/April, Arthunkal -
a famous pilgrim center, known for its St. Andrew's church set
up by Portuguese missionaries. The church is popularly known as
St. Sebastian's. The Portuguese missionaries built it in 1851
AD. |
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Day
11 : Alleppey - Quillon
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After
breakfast, check out and drive to Quillon. On arrival proceed
for a sight seeing tour. Visit Thangassery, Rameshwara temple
and Jataupara. Overnight at the hotel.
Quillon is set on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is famous for
Cashews. Quillon is a veritable Kerala in miniature is gifted
with Kerala's very representative features - sea, lakes, plains,
mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, vast green fields
and tropical crop of every variety both food crop and cash crop.
On arrival, proceed for a sight seeing tour.
Thangassery - a seaside village of historic importance, with the
ruins of an old Portuguese fort and a few 18th century churches
strewn all over, It is located 5 kms from Kollam. One of the main
attractions of the place is the Light House, which is 144 feet
high.
Rameshwara Temple - The influence of the pandyas is manifest in
its design having inscriptions in Tamil, dating from the 12th
to the 16th centuries. The Vyala monster sculptures in this temple
give one the impression that the creatures are animated and actually
climbing up the stairs with their outstretched paws and Jataupara
- A huge rock at Chadayamangalam, Jatayupara takes its name from
the mythical bird Jatayu in the epic Ramayana, who is believed
to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to
thwart Ravana's kidnapping of Sita. The Crafts Festival is held
annually during December-January, featuring the work of craftsmen
from all over the country.
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Day
12 : Quillon - Kovalam
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After
breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Kovalam,
which is amongst the best beaches in India. On arrival,
check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to
relax on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
13 : Kovalam
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After
early breakfast, proceed for a full day tour to Kanyakumari
- the places synonymous with Swami Vivekanand. It is located
at a junction at the southernmost tip of India where the
three water bodies, namely, Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean meet. From here, one can see the sun
rise from the Bay of Bengal and set in the Arabian Sea.
It is a holy place for Hindus because of the Kanyakumari
Temple. The Gandhi Smarak Mandir and Vivekananda Rock Memorial
are additional tourist attractions.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
14 : Kovalam
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After
buffet breakfast, the day is at leisure for personal activities.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day
15 : Kovalam - Trivandrum - Mumbai/Delhi
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Buffet
breakfast at the hotel. Later check out and transfer to the airport
for onward destination.
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Tour
price Includes:
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Accommodation
on twin sharing basis in budget, superior or luxury hotels.
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Daily
Breakfast
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Guided
sight seeing and excursion as specified in the itinerary.
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Domestic
(with India) Ground, Air and Train transportation as per the
itinerary.
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All applicable taxes.
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All
transfers and sight seeing are by a private vehicle.
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Air
transportation are/is in economy class and Train journey is
in Air-conditioned coach.
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Tour
price does not Includes:
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US
- INDIA - US airfare.
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Room service, in room amenities such as bar, Telephone calls,
laundry and food items etc.
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Still / Video Camera or any other photography equipment fee
wherever applicable.
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Tips,
gratuities and porterage.
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Meals
other than those specified in the itinerary
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Any
other services not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
or Tour price includes as stated above.
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